The American Spectator

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A Touch of Evil

8.28.08 @ 12:01AM

THE DARK SIDE
Re: Lisa Fabrizio's American Papists:

Thank you for this article. You have revealed to me an element of the evil of The American Spectator I was not previously aware of.
-- Bob Klahn
Pro-life Democrat
Ohio

While many observant Catholics may nod in agreement about the current state of church-state relations that Lisa Fabrizio describes in her readable account of our current presidential contest, there are a few additional points that need to be made.

Allow me to begin by making a distinction Signorina Fabrizio does not: John Kennedy may have been the first Catholic presidential candidate to make the point that "...being Catholic might be detrimental to being a good American," but the presidential election of 1928 was replete with commentary that claimed the election of a Catholic president was incompatible with our liberty and the U.S. Constitution. What is beyond cavil, however, is that Kennedy's victory in 1960, along with the changes in Church policy and leadership, or lack thereof, unleashed the forces that we see in play nearly a half century later with public officials who call themselves, "Catholic."

It is simply unthinkable that any "Catholic" politician prior to 1965 would have done what Kennedy, Cuomo, Kerry, Biden et al. have done since, viz., consider one's personal beliefs as trumping the Magisterium of the Church on matters of faith and morals. Had they so acted earlier, they would have been visited by the local bishop, or one of his surrogates, informing our "Catholic" public servant of the likely consequences of his decision. Since 1965, however, the overwhelming number of U.S. bishops have been unwilling to call to account those of their flock, especially politicians, who have seriously strayed, but continue to label themselves as "Catholic."

As a result, the appeal to individual conscience, another unintended consequence of Vatican II, now can, and is, used as a fig leaf to cover the Catholic politicians' derriere, because they know that there are no serious consequences to their apostasy. The "I'm personally against..." mantra is a ready, man-made excuse, which, along with the MSM's stilted reporting supporting the politician, makes a mockery of traditional Catholic beliefs. It boggles one's mind to read of the number of politicians who will, gladly, sell their souls to get favorable stories from the NYTimes or Washington Post.

Our author has, rightly, mentioned Bishop Burke, formerly of St. Louis, but currently serving in the Vatican, as one of the stalwarts in making Catholic politicians fess up to their actions. Another is the Archbishop of Denver, Bishop Charles Chaput. In their quest to show how religiously diverse they are, the Democrats invited a host of religious figures to speak at their convention, but, somehow, the good bishop was not amongst those to get the call. Perhaps he was unavailable...perhaps. Might it be that the convention's organizers thought that the good bishop would be inappropriate presence on the stage where the "Catholic" V.P. nominee is to speak? But not to worry: there is always room for the Rev. Michael Pfleger from Chicago.

Pax tecum
-- Vincent Chiarello
Reston, Virginia

NOT A PUNISHMENT
Re: Robert Stacy McCain's Cheerleader Caucus:

I am admittedly biased, but I want to say to whoever will listen that Fran Drescher is a disgraceful human being.

My 35-year-old wife recently had surgery for ovarian cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy at this time. As a couple, we could not naturally conceive, and we made three in-vitro attempts which failed. Ladies who cannot conceive are more at risk for ovarian cancer, and it is one of the deadliest cancers that females can contract.

All my wife ever wanted to be was a mommy. She cried for hours when the reality sunk in, and this was before enduring the physical pain of an 8-hour surgery and knowing through family history what chemotherapy can bring. And Ms. Drescher is upset that she lost her right to choose. She should thank God that her mother did not exercise that right.

I do not write this for sympathy or in anger at the circumstances, because with the power of God we will handle it. But when you link the words of Ms. Drescher with those of Senator Obama, who has no problem with infanticide and thinks that a poor decision by his daughters could "punish" him with a grandchild, I think you can get an idea about whom I think should NOT be in the White House.
-- Al Pote
Lake City, Illinois

Fran Drescher: "My right to choose was taken away when I was given a radical hysterectomy to cure my cancer," Drescher said. "I hate that I lost my right to choose, and you will, too."

In response, McCain writes: "The logic of that statement doesn't quite hold together -- what Republican would deny a woman the ability to bear children, as Drescher's hysterectomy did? -- but it was nonetheless applauded heartily by the Women's Caucus."

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Education, John McCain, Nancy Pelosi, Bill Clinton, Economics, Religion, Abortion, Constitution, Iraq, Russia, NATO, Africa